Marriage Preparation at St. Augustine

Congratulations on being called to the Sacrament of Marriage! Marriage is the center of Catholic family life and the vocation through which most people live out their baptismal commitment.

Cultural influences today can work against personal development for healthy Christian marriage and a lifetime commitment. Society expects marriages to fail, but the Catholic Church wants you to succeed. The Canon Law of the Catholic Church calls every diocese to prepare couples as well as possible for entering and living out the sacrament of marriage. Among the key elements of effective and successful marriage preparation are an assessment of your strengths and weaknesses as individuals and as a couple, followed by a strong educational program. I believe our diocesan marriage preparation program, the steps of which are outlined at right, will provide you with the spiritual resources and practical tools you need for a strong and healthy marriage, not only as newlyweds, but for a lifetime.

†Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix

Once you begin your marriage preparation, the Church coordinator from this department will schedule the steps that you will follow. Due to the seriousness and importance of this Sacrament, we ask you to be in person and on time on your appointments. This process must be completed before the wedding date; you will have, to postpone it until all requirements are fulfilled.

The marriage preparation consists of:

Call the office to make an appointment with the Marriage Department Coordinator to receive all detailed information, answer questions, doubts and concerns and start the marriage preparation. Please, call at (623) 849-3131 to schedule an appointment during the following hours:
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 10:00am-3:30pmFriday: 10:00am-12:00pm

Present the following documentation from both parties:

Original Baptism certificate (not older than 6 months from the beginning of the marriage preparation)

Copies of First Communion and Confirmation certificates

Copies of Birth Certificate

Copies of Civil Marriage (is applicable) or Marriage License.

Interview with the Priest (Prenuptial Inquiry) for all inquires and offer additional information to get married by the Church.

Take the FOCCUS test which is an inventory of the couple’s overall correlation identifying those areas that might need reaffirmation, attention or a solution to strengthen the couple’s relationship

Attend to the Engaged Couples Retreat or Remarrying Couples Seminar (for couples living together). To learn about marriage and sexuality and to live a marriage according to God’s willing.

Attend to God’s Plan Retreat for a joy-filled Marriage Retreat. To learn about the true meaning of marriage life according to God’s plan.

Complete Course of Natural Family Planning. Couples will learn about natural family planning to live and plan responsible paternity according to God’s teaching.

Confession o Sacrament of Reconciliation. The couple will be called by appointment before the date.

General Rehearsal of the Ceremony (whole court: couple, parents and godparents) to touch final details about the big day. ♥

Marriages are celebrated throughout the year. At least one of the parties must be registered in the parish for a minimum of one month prior to beginning the marriage preparation process. The Diocese of Phoenix requires a 9 month time frame for marriage preparation.

The Sacrament of Matrimony

We are the Roman Catholic parish of St. Augustine, inspired by our patron who was led by the Holy Spirit to reflect the love of the Father through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our mission is to create a community where we can live and share our Catholic Faith under the Roman Rite through prayer, proclamation of the Word of God, Sacramental Celebrations, Human and Spiritual Formation of the faithful; creating a strong Fraternity to transform our society and to foster the Salvation of souls.